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| United States Patent |
5,156,567
|
|
Gammon
, et al.
|
October 20, 1992
|
Gathering device for meat stuffing machine
Abstract
A gathering device for a stuffed meat product. Pneumatically controlled
noose means intermittently close as the meat product passes therethrough.
This closure compresses the meat product and gathers the wrapping
materials so that the operator need only twist the product to prepare it
for the clipping process.
| Inventors:
|
Gammon; David L. (Rochester, MI);
Sullivan; Michael J. (Rochester Hills, MI)
|
| Assignee:
|
Brechteen Co. (Mt. Clemens, MI)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
538575 |
| Filed:
|
June 15, 1990 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
452/48; 452/46 |
| Intern'l Class: |
A22C 011/12 |
| Field of Search: |
452/48,22,30,31,32,46
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
| 1868203 | Jul., 1932 | Henderson et al.
| |
| 2001461 | May., 1935 | Hewitt.
| |
| 2382210 | Aug., 1945 | Cummins | 452/48.
|
| 2802745 | Aug., 1957 | Bosel.
| |
| 2983949 | May., 1961 | Matecki.
| |
| 2999756 | Sep., 1961 | Shiner et al.
| |
| 3471305 | Oct., 1969 | Marbach.
| |
| 3553768 | Jan., 1971 | Wilmsen.
| |
| 3553769 | Jan., 1971 | Myles et al.
| |
| 3621513 | Nov., 1971 | Kupcikevicius.
| |
| 4017941 | Apr., 1977 | Raudys et al.
| |
| 4028775 | Jun., 1977 | Tysver.
| |
| 4034441 | Jul., 1977 | Kupcikevicius et al. | 452/45.
|
| 4077090 | Mar., 1978 | Frey et al. | 452/38.
|
| 4133076 | Jan., 1979 | Kupcikevicius | 452/45.
|
| 4164057 | Aug., 1979 | Frey et al. | 452/38.
|
| 4521938 | Jun., 1985 | Kupcikevicius | 452/38.
|
| 4525895 | Jul., 1985 | Raudys | 452/39.
|
| 4541660 | Sep., 1985 | Pujol | 452/48.
|
| 4621482 | Nov., 1986 | Crevasse et al. | 53/439.
|
| 4716713 | Jan., 1988 | Crevasse et al. | 53/530.
|
| 4719116 | Jan., 1988 | Crevasse | 426/315.
|
| 4766645 | Aug., 1988 | Lamartino et al. | 452/31.
|
| 4910034 | Mar., 1990 | Winkler | 426/420.
|
| 4924552 | May., 1990 | Sullivan | 452/24.
|
| 4958477 | Sep., 1990 | Winkler | 53/138.
|
| Foreign Patent Documents |
| 1014413 | Jul., 1977 | CA.
| |
| 1123658 | May., 1982 | CA.
| |
| 10937 | May., 1980 | EP | 452/8.
|
| 1425767 | Feb., 1976 | GB.
| |
Primary Examiner: Little; Willis
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Harness, Dickey & Pierce
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A gathering device for a meat product which is stuffed into a wrapper
from a stuffing horn, said gathering device comprising:
noose means located adjacent an end of the horn for selectively closing and
opening a loop about the wrapped stuffed meat product, said loop being
reusable for continuous selective opening and closing about the wrapped
stuffed meat product as it moves through the loop such that upon opening
the loop, after closing about the wrapped stuffed meat product, the
wrapper stays in a crimped position to facilitate enclosure of the end of
the meat product.
2. The gathering device of claim 1, which further comprises:
a stanchion mounted adjacent the end of the stuffing horn;
an arm having one end pivotally connected to the stanchion;
a loop carrier member having a bore therein and connected to an opposite
end of the arm, a fixed end of the loop being coupled to the carrier
member, with opposite end portions of the loop passing through the bore in
the carrier member; and
motive means coupled to a free end of the loop for moving it substantially
parallel to the arm to thereby control opening and closing of the loop,
with said arm pivoting about the stanchion to maintain the loop
essentially centered relative to the meat product.
3. The gathering device of claim 2, wherein said motive means comprises:
a pneumatically operated cylinder controlling reciprocating movement of a
traveller, the free end of the loop being connected to the traveller.
4. The gathering device of claim 2, wherein said loop is formed from a
plastic coated cable.
5. In a machine for simultaneously wrapping and stuffing meat products into
a net, said apparatus including a stuffing horn having a free end, a tube
with netting shirred thereon surrounding the end of the horn, means for
feeding a wrapping material to the end of the horn inside of said netting,
and a ram means for pushing meat products through the horn and
simultaneously into the wrapping and netting, wherein the improvement
comprises:
noose means located adjacent the end of the stuffing horn, said noose means
providing a reusable loop surrounding the wrapped netted meat products;
means for closing the loop about the wrapped netted meat products when the
ram reaches the end of its stroke adjacent the end of the stuffing horn,
whereby an operator can twist the meat product to temporarily enclose the
end thereof;
means for retracting the ram; and
means for reopening the loop when the ram has retracted such that the
wrapper stays in a crimped position whereby the machine is ready for
another meat product stuffing cycle.
6. The machine of claim 5, which further comprises:
a stanchion mounted adjacent the end of the stuffing horn;
an arm pivotally connected at one end to the stanchion;
a loop carrier member connected to an opposite end of the arm wherein a
fixed end of the loop is coupled to said carrier member, with opposite end
portions of the loop passing through the carrier member bore; and
motive means coupled to a free end of the loop moving it substantially
parallel to the arm to thereby control the opening and closing of the
loop, said arm pivoting about the stanchion to maintain the loop
essentially centered to the meat product.
7. The machine of claim 6, wherein said motive means comprises:
a pneumatically operated cylinder controlling the reciprocating movement of
a traveller wherein the free end of the loop is connected to the
traveller.
8. The machine of claim 7, which further comprises guide tube means for
preventing buckling of the loop as said noose means return to a fully open
position.
9. The machine according to claim 5, wherein said loop is formed of a
plastic coated cable.
10. A method for stuffing meat products into a wrapper, said method
comprising:
using a ram to force meat products into a closed end of the wrapper which
surrounds a stuffing horn;
closing a reusable loop around the wrapped food product;
retracting the ram; and
reopening the loop;
whereby reopening the loop facilitates the advancement of the stuffed meat
product away from the stuffing horn.
11. The method of claim 10, which further comprises the step of:
twisting the meat product and
clipping the twisted end of the meat product.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein compressed air is reciprocally
introduced into a pneumatically operated cylinder above and below a piston
contained in said cylinder causing a traveller to open and close said
loop.
13. The method claim 12, wherein a sensor senses the proximity of said ram
as said ram nears the end of said stuffing horn, wherein said sensor
causes an impulse relay to send a signal to a shuttle valve which
energizes a second valve thereby causing compressed air to be introduced
into said pneumatic cylinder above said piston simultaneously forcing said
piston downwardly within said cylinder and said traveller upwardly thereby
causing said loop to be drawn closed.
14. The method of claim 12 wherein a sensor senses the proximity of said
ram as said ram retracts away from the end of said stuffing horn, wherein
said sensor causes an impulse relay to send a signal to a shuttle valve
which energizes a second valve thereby causing compressed air to be
introduced into said pneumatic cylinder below said piston forcing it
upwardly within said cylinder and said traveller downwardly thereby
causing said loop to be opened.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
This invention relates to food processing equipment and, more particularly,
to a gathering device for use with a meat stuffing machine.
2. Discussion
In the meat processing industry sausage casings, films and/or netting are
often used to contain or wrap stuffed meat products. For example, netting
and an edible film are placed over an end of a stuffing horn and the meat
products are forced into the netting/film through a chute in the horn by a
ram. This technique is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,924,552 which is
hereby incorporated by reference. Once the wrapped meat product exits the
horn, typically the operator must grasp the meat product by hand and
firmly squeeze it to form the ends. Immediately after compressing the meat
product, the operator usually twist the product to bind the wrapping to
prevent it from opening at the newly formed end. Finally, the formed
product is carried to a clipping station that cuts and clips the wrapping
material where it has been twisted to form individual meat products.
The present invention is primarily concerned with the way in which the
wrapped meat product is compressed at one end after the ram has pushed the
meat products into the opposite closed end of the wrapper. In the past,
the operator of similar meat packing machines had to grab the meat product
by hand and very quickly compress and twist the product before the
stuffing ram retracted to prevent the meat from being sucked back into the
horn. In order to allow sufficient time for the operator to conduct this
compress and twist motion, the stuffing cycle had to be run at a
relatively slow speed. Worse yet, because of the intricate bone structure
of the human wrist joint, the operator may tend to develop ailments such
as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome after conducting the compress and twist motion
over an extended period of time.
One of the advantages of the present invention is the increased efficiency.
By eliminating the need for an operator to simultaneously compress and
twist the meat product the stuffing cycle may be run at a much quicker
pace.
Another advantage of the present invention is a more uniformly shaped final
product since the meat is no longer sucked back into the horn by the
retracting ram.
A further advantage of the present invention over meat processing machines
which use plates to compress the meat product ends is the safety afforded.
If the operator's fingers happen to get caught in the gathering device of
the present invention as it closes, it is much less likely that serious
injury would result.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the teaching of the present invention, once the meat
product is stuffed into the wrapping, a noose closes over the meat product
and wrapping to help close off the end of the wrapped meat product. This
compression and gathering of the wrapped meat product occurs much faster
and is much safer than was previously possible.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The various advantages of the present invention will become apparent to
those skilled in the art after having the benefit of reading the following
specification and by reference to the drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a side view of a meat stuffing machine made in accordance with
the teachings of this invention, the gathering device being shown with the
noose in a fully open position;
FIG. 2 is an end view of the gathering device showing the noose in a fully
open position;
FIG. 3 is a side view partially in cross-section showing the traveller in
its lowermost position, with the loop being fully open;
FIG. 4 is an end view which shows the arm (in phantom lines) pivoting to
keep the loop essentially centered relative to the meat product as the
loop is drawn closed;
FIG. 5 is a side view of the gathering device during an initial step in the
gathering operation;
FIG. 6 is a side view showing the step of gathering the wrapped meat
product and closing the loop about the product;
FIG. 7 is a side view demonstrating how the meat product is twisted after
gathering to prepare it for the clipping operation;
FIG. 8 is a side view which demonstrates the final step where the ram
retracts and the loop is opened;
FIG. 9 is a side view which again shows the initial step in the gathering
operation and also shows the final products being clipped; and
FIG. 10 is a schematic illustration of the pneumatic control system.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As eluded to earlier, the method and apparatus of the present invention are
concerned with providing a gathering device which collects the meat
product in wrapping to form individual wrapped and netted meat products
such as hams and the like. FIG. 1 shows an example of the meat stuffing
machine 10 which incorporates the gathering device 12 of the present
invention.
FIG. 2 is an end view of the gathering device with the noose mechanism 14
shown with the loop 16 in a fully open position. The loop is illustrated
as a plastic coated cable; however, other flexible materials such as nylon
ties could likewise be used. Initially the loop 16 has a slightly larger
circumference than the chute or horn 18 to allow the extruded meat product
to pass through the loop 16.
FIG. 3 is a close-up view partially in cross-section of the loop carrier
member 20 and the traveller 22 to which a free end 24 of the loop cable 28
is coupled. The loop carrier member 20 is provided with a bore 26 through
which portions of the cable comprising the loop pass as the system is
activated driving the traveller 22 in an upward direction. An opposite end
30 of the loop cable 28 is fixed to the carrier member 20.
FIG. 4 is an end view which shows how the gathering device 12 operates to
close the loop 16 about the wrapped meat product. When the meat stuffing
cycle begins, the loop 16 is in a fully open position to allow the meat
product to pass through. As the meat is forced out of the horn 18 the
pneumatic system demonstrated in FIG. 10 is activated and the loop 16
begins to close. Closure of the loop occurs as air is injected into the
cylinder 32 through port 34 driving piston 36 downwardly. This, in turn,
causes the pulley cable 38 to rotate on the wheels 40 and 42. The pulley
cable 38 is coupled to the traveller 22 which necessarily moves upward as
the pulley cable rotates in a counter-clockwise direction. As mentioned,
the free end 24 of the loop cable 16 is also coupled to the traveller 22.
Therefore, as the pulley cable 38 rotates to draw the traveller 22 upward
the loop 16 is closed about the meat product. FIG. 4 also demonstrates
that as the loop 16 is drawn closed the entire arm 44 pivots about the
fixed stanchion 46 at pivot point 48 to maintain the loop essentially
centered relative to the meat product.
Turning now to FIGS. 5-9, the operation of gathering the wrapped meat
product is shown stepwise. In FIG. 5 pieces 51 of the meat product is
introduced into the end (e.g., at inlet 50 shown in FIG. 1) of the
stuffing horn 18 and is compacted by ram 52 within horn 18 and is stuffed
into the wrapping material. As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,924,552, the
wrapping material consists of an edible collagen film 54, such as COFFI
film available from the Brechteen Co. and the an outer netting material 56
which covers the collagen-wrapped stuffed meat product. The loop 16 is
shown in a fully open position ready to close about the stuffed product as
the ram 52 reaches its forward end of its stroke. Farther along in the
process the wrapped stuffed meat products which have been previously
wrapped and gathered are carried to the clipping station 58. The clipper
58 is shown in FIG. 5 in an engaged position separating one end of the
individual wrapped meat product.
FIG. 6 shows the loop 16 being closed about the stuffed meat product as the
ram 52 is in the very end of its stroke. The traveller 22 is moving in an
upward direction which causes the loop 16 to close. The clipper 58 is
shown in a retracted position to allow the meat product 59 to move along
the platform 60.
FIG. 7 also shows the loop 16 in a fully closed position. At this point the
wrapped stuffed meat product is twisted by the operator to close off the
end in preparation for the clipping process.
In FIG. 8 the ram 52 retracts within the horn 18 beyond the inlet 50 where
the meat product is introduced into the horn. When the ram fully retracts,
the loop 16 opens in preparation for another cycle to begin.
Finally, FIG. 9 demonstrates the beginning of a new cycle where new meat
pieces 61 are stuffed into netting/film wrapping and, thereafter the loop
16 is drawn closed about the wrapped and stuffed meat product as discussed
above.
FIG. 10 illustrates a pneumatic schematic diagram for stuffing machine 10.
Main cylinder 70 is a pneumatically operated cylinder that moves ram 52
forwardly or to retract it depending upon which end of the cylinder
compressed air is applied, in a manner known in the art. When the operator
trips a simple switch such as a knee switch 72 on the machine, the
cylinder 70 is operated so as to move ram 52 to the left or forwardly to
push the meat pieces into the collagen film and netting. When the ram 52
reaches its end of the stroke, i.e., adjacent the end of the stuffing horn
18, sensor 74 senses the proximity of the ram 52 and causes an impulse
relay 76 to send a signal to a shuttle valve 78. Shuttle valve 78, in
turn, energizes 4-way valve 80 to cause the traveller 22 to move upwardly
thereby carrying the free end of the loop 16 with it causing the loop 16
to contract or close about the wrapped and netted meat product. Then, the
operator can twist the meat product which temporarily encloses the same.
As noted before, one of the advantages of this invention is that it
automatically performs the function of compressing the ends of the meat
products together which was heretofore generally been accomplished
manually. Another feature of this invention is that the pressure applied
to valve 80 is such that the loop contracts with enough force to compress
the meat products but without sufficient force to cause injury in the
event that an operator's finger or other appendages accidentally became
caught within the noose. Sensor 82 senses the end of the stroke of
cylinder 32 (FIG. 4) which coincides with closure of noose 16 and sends a
signal back to a valve 86. Valve 86 then shuttles to cause the main
cylinder 70 to retract the ram 52 to its home position. When the ram 52
reaches its home position this is sensed by sensor 88 which, in turn,
causes impulse relay 90 to send a signal to shuttle valve 92. Valve 92
causes valve 80 to energize cylinder 32 to move its piston 36 in an
opposite direction thereby causing the traveller 22 to move downwardly
thereby reopening the loop 16. The guide tube 94 that surrounds the cable
38 prevents it from buckling during this downward travel of the traveller
22. Now, the cycle is completed and ready for another meat stuffing
operation.
Those skilled in the art will now come to appreciate some of the advantages
of the present invention. The gathering device of the present invention
allows the meat stuffing process to occur much faster by eliminating the
need for an operator to gather the product by compressing each section as
it comes out of the horn. The gathering device is also much safer than the
previously known plate-type gathering apparatus. There is also greater
uniformity of shape because the gathering device closes with the same
amount of force each time and closes in a manner to prevent the meat
product from being sucked back into the horn as the stuffing ram retracts.
The skilled practitioner will realize still other advantages of the
invention after having the benefit of studying the specification, drawings
and the following claims.
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